Stone Mountain Cache Traditional Cache
Westerner: Time to end this one.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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A good hike up the Round Mountain Trail just west of Loveland to Stone Mountain, a rocky peak east of Sheep (Round) Mountain. Great views in all directions, particularly of the plains and reservoirs to the south.
This cache is an ammo box hidden in a nice place to sit and enjoy the scenery. To get there park at the Round Mountain trailhead across from Viestenz Smith park west of Loveland on highway 34.
Follow the summit trail up the hill about 3 miles to the saddle. At the saddle (~ N40 24.228, W105 17.909) you will need to leave the main trail and head east. Your GPS should show about 0.65 miles as the crow flies to the cache. You can follow an un-maintained and sometimes faint Ghost trail almost all of the way to the cache. I lost the trail when I got within about 0.2 mi of the cache, but at that point the trail wasn’t needed anyway as the goal was in sight. There is an occasional cairn along the Ghost trail to help you on your way. From the saddle to the cache there isn’t too much elevation change until the final few hundred feet.
The reason for the name of the mountain will be quite evident when you reach it. You will be able to espy the peak from the main Round Mountain trail after you get past the hole in the wall. There is a bit of climbing at the end over large rocks and boulders, not difficult but probably not suited to small children. This cache could be dangerous in wet or snowy conditions due to the boulders you need to climb at the end. Please use caution and do this only in favorable weather conditions.
The hike is about 4.1 miles each way. There are a few other very enjoyable caches to do along the Round Mountain trail, be sure to grab them if you can!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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